Top 7 of Spain’s Most Amazing Museums You Could Ever Set Foot In

The greatest insight on a civilization is the one you get in the national museums. Visiting them, you can understand where these people have been, what they value most, what defines them as a group and where they are going. Spain is no exception to the rule. What is more it has museums so remarkable that people flock there every year. And we are not even talking only about the capital. There are great museum options in other Spanish cities as well. Let’s see which ones these are and what could interest you the most. All in the name of art, culture and science, no? Ole!

Spain’s top 7 museums all tourists should visit

I. Prado Museum

Outside view of the Prado Museum

This is one of the finest art museums in the world. Here you can feast your eyes on a complete collection of Spanish paintings dating from the 11th to the 18th century and it is based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. Other great masters whose works you can admire at the Prado museum are Rubens, Hyeronymus Bosch, or El Bosco, as the Spanish call him, Titian, Tintoretto, Raphael and Rembrandt. Otherwise, if you came specifically for Goya, Velazquez or El Greco, you have hit the jackpot.

The building which now houses the museum was built in 1785 and it was designed by Juan de Villanueva, a Spanish Enlightenment architect. The museum has a collection of 1000 sculptures, 7600 paintings and it is visited by more than 2 million people every year.

II. Thyssen-Bornemisza

Outside view of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

The collection of works of art at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum started off as an awe inspiring collection of a private collector. It included around 700 canvases from artists such as El Greco and Picasso and it was formerly displayed in Switzerland.

Today, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum collection includes works from the 13th century to the Impressionism, from the German and English schools to American avant-garde movement. You can admire the works of Durer, Renoir, Van Dyck, Degas, Kandinsky and many others.

III. Reina Sofia

Outside view of the Reina Sofia Museum

Probably the biggest Spanish masterpiece is on display here, at the Reina Sofia Museum. We are talking about Picasso’s Guernica, the painting depicting the horrors of war. In fact, this is one of Spain’s largest museums with pieces of great artists such as Miro and Dali among others. The edifice is dedicated to contemporary and modern art and it is a must see for any art lover.

The entire collection is housed in two buildings. One was erected in the 16th century and one in 2001. At this point we should mention that this glorious construction closes Madrid’s “Golden Art Triangle” with the other two museums, the Thyssen and Prado, making up the other two sides.

IV. Guggenheim Bilbao Museum

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

Do you think all museums are the same? Extensive collections of old paintings on display in buildings which used to belong to the royal family? Well, it is not the case when referring to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Many people take the trip simply to see the building designed by architect Frank Gehry.

As expected, the works on display here are avant-garde and contemporary art and the presentation is always stunning and in tune with the vibe of the place. The museum is now the symbol of Bilbao, a city that already was a popular tourist attraction.

V. Picasso Museum

Street view of the Picasso Museum

You cannot visit Barcelona and not go to see Picasso’s greatest works. Maids of Honor, Harlequin and other more than 150 paintings can be seen here. There are also his interpretations of the works of great masters, like the Las Meninas series and his ceramic works. You can take in the genius of Picasso in the beautiful setting of the Buenavista Palace and you can even attend one of the many cultural activities held here on a regular basis. No matter how you put it, visiting the Picasso museum is a must.

VI. Dali Theatre Museum

Street view of the Dali Theatre Museum

You do not have to be a fan of the surrealist movement to find something interesting to see in the Dali Theatre Museum. In fact, we believe very few people can leave the place without discovering a small passion for the artist afterwards. The Dali Theatre Museum is situated in Figueres, 139 kilometers from the city of Barcelona. It is housed in the former municipal theatre built in the 19th century, the eccentric artist himself having supervised the renovation works. All displays are conceived as a show as the artist wanted and there is always something to discover even where you expect it the least.

VII. Museo de Bellas Artes

Museum of Fine Arts in Seville

As impressive as the collection at the Prado museum may be, there were still some pretty interesting works of art that ended up at the Museum for Fine Arts in Seville. When the Spanish promised a cultural experience in more than just the country capital, they were not kidding. Among the works you can see at the museum housed in a 17th century convent there are the Immaculate Conception of Murillo and the Apotheosis of St. Thomas Aquinas of Zurbaran.

Amazed by how many beautiful things you could see in Spain? We expected that. This is why our selection is so restricted. Once you check out the biggest museums on our list, your appetite will take you to the next ones. And we bet you will not be disappointed there either.